Long-time Modern Luxury contributor Angela Pan moves among the shadows on the National Mall in the wee hours. Her images capture those quiet yet arresting moments when night delivers magic. We asked Pan for tips on shooting the District when the light is low and the city’s beauty is ripe for capturing.
What are the most important things to think about when shooting after sunset in DC during the summer?
Light is the number-one thing to consider in photography, especially when shooting at night. Whether you want to capture some light trails from cars rolling down Pennsylvania Avenue or the sweet city lights of Chinatown, consider how much light is available and plan accordingly. Think: lens, tripod and additional lighting.
Since evening photography is outdoors, I'm always looking at the weather. My favorite summer weather conditions are the lightning storms we get. They can get loud and violent, but they’re so thrilling to capture. Just make sure to stand under or near a safe shelter.
How do I avoid grainy low-light pictures?
Lower your camera ISO, and bring a tripod. The lower your ISO, the less grain you’ll get. If you don't have a tripod, try to lean your camera against something stable like a memorial column, or put your camera on the ground when you're trying to catch a reflection at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. But in case you do capture too much grain, Lightroom does a pretty great job of removing it.
When photographing people inside or near monuments, are there any great tricks?
I love silhouetting people at nighttime—meaning the light source is behind the person, and there isn't much information seen other than the shape of your subject. I think it adds to the mystery of the evening, and it's easy to do this at the memorials.
My technique is to find an interesting composition using a bright light. This can be the spotlight on the Washington Monument or highlighting the columns at the Lincoln Memorial—and just be patient. Fortunately, the memorials are busy enough that it probably won't be long until someone walks in front of that light. That's when I hit the shutter and create some interesting portraits at night.
When shooting with a DSLR, what’s your biggest tip?
A fast lens will give you a bit more flexibility when trying to shoot in low-light conditions. The faster—that is, a higher aperture opening—the better. This will help reduce grain and create some super sharp images.
When I'm shooting with a newer iPhone, what is your biggest tip?
Night mode will definitely help with the grain in your images, but don't be afraid to play with the exposure settings, too. The best part about the iPhone is that you can see the adjustments in real-time, so you can experiment as much as you want.
If you're facing an exceptionally low-light situation, try to keep your iPhone close to your body and hold your breath while shooting. This will reduce any movement or shake you may see in your final picture. Using the volume button as the shutter will be a lot easier to make sure your camera is steady while capturing the image.
Any tips for shooting video at night?
Night videography is a little more difficult considering these moving images require more light. The same suggestions apply with videos such as shooting with a fast lens and having some sort of stabilization, like a gimbal, but my big tip is to get as close as you can to your light source. The closer you and your subject are to the light, the softer your subject will appear in your video.
Street lamps can be harsh since they’re so tall and far away from the subject, which can cause some unflattering shadows—unless you’re using the streetlamp to silhouette. So if you don't have your own lighting, I would suggest maybe using lights from a storefront or even the glow of a parked downtown bus. Try to get creative with your lighting, and the video will be much more interesting and visually appealing to watch.
What are two or three of your favorite spots to shoot in DC at night?
Some of the more well-lit memorials. For example, I love how the World War II memorial fountains glow under the stars. And who can resist the brilliance of the Washington Monument? It's like a bold sword in the sky.
Photography by: Angela Pan
